Bremen International Model United Nations (BRIMUN)

Applying to BRIMUN

Here below you will find all relevant information regarding the application process of BRIMUN 2010.
Conference dates: March 28 to April 1, 2010
Conference fee: Euro 65 (this includes transportation in the Bremen area, two meals per conference day (lunch and dinner) and access to all social events of the conference).
As soon as the registration is officially open, the admission process will begin. If you want to secure your place at the conference, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible as early applicants have higher chances of getting assigned a country of their choices.

When assigning the countries to delegates, we take various factors into consideration. These include: previous MUN experience and awards received, involvement in other mun-related activities, application statements, and others. Applying as part of a delegation improves your chances of being assigned to a country of your choice. The same school may register more than one delegation if more than 5-6 delegates are able to come; we have no limits regarding the number of delegates that come from a single school.

Please note that, due to an increasing number of participants, your country assignment might differ from the choices you have stated in the application.

Application Process
First, fill out the Online Application. After you submit your application, you will receive a notification by email. Note that the registration will be considered incomplete unless you provide all the information required.

In due time, the admission team will notify you of your acceptance into the conference via e-mail, specifying also your country and committee assignment  (Please bear in mind that this may take a while, so if you got a notification of your registration you will hear from Admissions as soon as possible and with enough time to prepare for the conference).

Finally, in order to confirm your application, you will be asked to proceed with the payment of the conference fee (Euro 65). Payment details will be emailed to you, along with your username/password information.

For those applicants who need a visa, please note that there will be a special deadline of registration. This is yet to be announced.

Who can apply?

Any university or high-school student regardless of gender, ethnicity and country of origin, social-status, sexual orientation, or political views is welcomed to apply. For legal reasons, we do not admit delegates younger than 16 years old at the time of the conference. Delegates younger than 18 years old at the time of the conference will be asked to supply us with a letter of permission from their parents or legal guardians (the letter template can be obtained through the admissions team via admissions@brimun.org). The maximum age-limit of the conference is 28 years old.

Financial Aid

Due to limited funding we do not offer direct financial support at BRIMUN. Nonetheless, we are open in helping delegates with fundraising by providing them with a letter of support. For more information, please contact us via info@brimun.org or travel@brimun.org

For further information or any uncertainties about the application process, please visit our FAQ section or contact us by email via admissions@brimun.org. Please also bear in mind the important dates regarding the application process.

What is BRIMUN?

Welcome to BRIMUN!

In 2010, Jacobs University Bremen is hosting its eighth Bremen International Model United Nations Conference. The BRIMUN 2010 Secretariat, a team of highly committed students and MUN enthusiasts, would like to welcome you to discover our conference. BRIMUN 2010 will be held from March 28 to April 1, 2010 under the theme “Energy and Resources”. Amidst financial crisis, energy securtiy, global warming, poverty, and the scarcity of renewable resources; world leaders are faced with a crisis that threatens every citizen’s future. This spring, help save the world! Attend BRIMUN 2010.

The Bremen International Model United Nations (BRIMUN) offers an exciting yearly conference, greeting highly qualified delegates from a wide assortment of universities around the world. During BRIMUN’s past editions, delegates have experienced top quality committees, thought provoking debates and thrilling social events. A highly motivated group of students is currently working hard to make BRIMUN 2010 a challenging and enriching experience.

At BRIMUN, delegates really grasp a great impression of the ever rising challenges posed by diplomacy in the world today. Especially through a very distinct component of BRIMUN: our crisis. Delegates are exposed to fictional events developed by a very skillful team of students who are responsible for creating a complex plot and emergency situations to which participants have to adjust throughout all days of the conference. Learn more…

The Bremen International Model United Nations (BRIMUN) offers an exciting yearly conference, greeting highly qualified delegates from a wide assortment of universities around the globe. The main aim of the conference is to simulate the debates and discussions that take place in the chambers of different international organizations and create fictional, yet highly realistic scenarios, wherein the participants play the role of the diplomats of modern times. During the conference, BRIMUN delegates find themselves immersed in the complexities posed by the most pressing world issues ranging from Human Rights violations, nuclear disarmament, military interstate disputes, food and development aid, and even war. Delegates at BRIMUN then embark on a journey of negotiation, diplomacy and cooperation and put into practice vital skills that serve towards their integral education.

In addition, one of the goals of the conference is to allow our delegates to really grasp what being a diplomat involves and truly take upon the leadership of what they are representing. For this reason, BRIMUN spends a great deal of time developing our very distinctive component: the crisis. Throughout the conference, participants are exposed fictional events developed by a very skillful team of students who are responsible for creating a complex plot and emergency situations to which participants have to react and adjust throughout all days of the conference. This is not only exciting for those involved, but also puts into extreme their negotiating and rapid-thinking abilities.

Outside committee discussions, BRIMUN offers to its participants and special guests, the chance to engage in thought-provoking lectures and discussion forums with our key-note speakers and personalities involved in the field. This has been an excellent opportunity to interact with those currently involved in the world of international relations and get first-hand insights of their experiences.

At the same time, BRIMUN traditionally features an extensive social program which allows its participants to enjoy fantastic events, relaxing chill outs, and several workshops. BRIMUN therefore extends beyond the committee experience and does its utmost to make of the conference an enjoyable and worthwhile experience.

BRIMUN has always done its best to impress its delegates with a high degree of organizational professionalism and has worked towards maintaining this standard to give everyone the chance to fully dive into this experience.  The organizing team of BRIMUN is looking forward to welcoming our future delegates, speakers and contributors in the campus of Jacobs University from March 28 to April 1, 2010.

How do I start my own club?

Here are a few steps you need to take to start a MUN club at your school or community center:

1. Get permission to set up a MUN team from your school or community center.
2. Identify a teacher, counselor or other adult advisor who will act as a mentor and offer suggestions as you set up your MUN team.
3. Write a purpose statement for the club. Writing a purpose statement makes your commitment to creating this club more concrete. It should include why you want to start this club, what will the club stand for and how you propose to achieve this.Example
   “The MUN club engages in an authentic simulation of the United Nations system by learning about the UN system, the skills of debate, compromise, conflict resolution and negotiation. MUN team members have fun learning about the workings of world diplomacy through the lens of current events.”
4. Find a classroom or appropriate meeting place where team members can meet and where you can set up a workspace with book resources, maps, and a computer if possible. It is often helpful to meet in a space where you can practice your debating skills and do research together. Set up a consistent time to meet.
5. Create a flyer that advertises the formation of this club to enroll others into the club as team members. The team should include members who are familiar with one or many of the following skills: debate, public speaking, international affairs, negotiation, conflict resolution,writing draft resolutions, plotting strategy and understanding UN rules and procedures.
6. Set a communications system – telephone list of members, e-mail addresses, etc.
7. Decide where your teams strengths and weakness lie and create a training program with the support of your advisor/mentor, team members, and resources from the MUNDA and other internet sites to build your team’s capacities and strengths.
8. Choose a conference you want to participate in.

There are many factors to consider when selecting a conference to attend, most notably:

• cost,
• travel distance,
• conference size,
• and dates.

There is no international rating system or quality index for Model UN Conferences – the reputation of a given conference is the only indication of quality available.

If you have never participated in a particular conference, it is wise to request the names and addresses of faculty members and students who participated in a previous conference and contact them directly. UNA-USA does not rate conferences or promote competition among them, but will assist teachers and students by recommending conferences.

If you are doing Model UN for the first time you should consider starting out small. Success at a smaller model will often give your team the necessary confidence and skills to debate well on the larger scale.

The ideal is to attend a series of conferences that gradually increase in scope and size, marking your team’s progress and improvement.

For many MUN delegations the goal is to work toward a final large event, thus retaining focus, momentum, and excitement throughout the year. At the same time, smaller conferences

How to Register for a Model United Nations Conference

The Calendar of Model United Nations Conferences is designed to make it as easy as possible for you to select the conference best suited for your schedule, financial resources, and location.

1. Select the dates and location of the Model U.N. conference(s) appropriate to your group’s academic level and financial resources. Also, set goals on what you would like to (or can) achieve by going to what particular MUN conference.
2. Write to the Secretary-General or contact person of the Model U.N. conference(s) to request registration forms, and if you wish, information about contacting a faculty advisor or student who attended the conference(s) the year before. Many conferences have Internet sites, which can provide a good look into the size and scope of a conference.
3. Remember that many conferences are student-run. If you do not receive the information you requested within a reasonable period of time, a quick call can get things on track.
4. Once you have received the registration forms, complete and return them with the requested information and fees. Your group will soon receive confirmation or notification of registration and a “country assignment” as well as background materials, the conference schedule, etc. Remember to keep a copy of all material and checks sent to the conference organizers.
5. This whole process becomes easier when would-be participants can register on-line or download the registration forms. So check the web sites.

There are many factors to consider when selecting a conference to attend, most notably:

• cost,
• travel distance,
• conference size,
• and dates.

There is no international rating system or quality index for Model UN Conferences – the reputation of a given conference is the only indication of quality available.

If you have never participated in a particular conference, it is wise to request the names and addresses of faculty members and students who participated in a previous conference and contact them directly. UNA-USA does not rate conferences or promote competition among them, but will assist teachers and students by recommending conferences.

If you are doing Model UN for the first time you should consider starting out small. Success at a smaller model will often give your team the necessary confidence and skills to debate well on the larger scale.

The ideal is to attend a series of conferences that gradually increase in scope and size, marking your team’s progress and improvement.

For many MUN delegations the goal is to work toward a final large event, thus retaining focus, momentum, and excitement throughout the year. At the same time, smaller conferences

How to Register for a Model United Nations Conference

The Calendar of Model United Nations Conferences is designed to make it as easy as possible for you to select the conference best suited for your schedule, financial resources, and location.

1. Select the dates and location of the Model U.N. conference(s) appropriate to your group’s academic level and financial resources. Also, set goals on what you would like to (or can) achieve by going to what particular MUN conference.
2. Write to the Secretary-General or contact person of the Model U.N. conference(s) to request registration forms, and if you wish, information about contacting a faculty advisor or student who attended the conference(s) the year before. Many conferences have Internet sites, which can provide a good look into the size and scope of a conference.
3. Remember that many conferences are student-run. If you do not receive the information you requested within a reasonable period of time, a quick call can get things on track.
4. Once you have received the registration forms, complete and return them with the requested information and fees. Your group will soon receive confirmation or notification of registration and a “country assignment” as well as background materials, the conference schedule, etc. Remember to keep a copy of all material and checks sent to the conference organizers.
5. This whole process becomes easier when would-be participants can register on-line or download the registration forms. So check the web sites.

How to Select a Country

When registering for a Model U.N. Conference, you will usually be asked to indicate your preferences of countries to role-play in the conference. With 190 countries to choose from, the opportunities are immense. The greatest competition among Model U.N. groups is often for the 15 countries of the Security Council, especially the 5 permanent members with veto power:

• China
• France
• United Kingdom
• United States
• Russian Federation

It is worth noting, however, that in the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council, and most other U.N. governing bodies, the principle of sovereign equality governs the proceedings. That is to say that each member state has one vote and even the “smallest” member state not only has a role to play, but can sometime wield considerable influence.

Therefore, when selecting countries that you would like to represent, bear in mind that size and power are not the only important criteria.

Country Assignments
Most conferences work on a first-come, first-served basis when it comes to country designation. The sooner you send in your registration material and pay the fees, the better your chances of getting the country of your choice.

Other conferences give country assignments according to which schools received awards the year before.

Questions to Consider
It may be helpful to consider some of the following criteria when narrowing down the countries to list as preference:

1. What would you like your group to learn from the experience? Which of the countries would help you to satisfy this learning experience?
2. How do these countries fit into the existing course of study for members in your group? Are you creating a pattern for your course of study? For example, you may wish to teach about Economic Development and would therefore choose countries that are emerging economically.
3. How much of a challenge do each of the countries pose for your group?
4. How familiar are members of your group with the countries or region that you have chosen?
5. Are there enough people in your group to represent the countries that you have chosen in the Model U.N. conferences that you plan to attend? Most conferences provide a matrix detailing the minimum and maximum number of delegates needed to represent each country.